On Sept. 19 of every year, the Polish people celebrate the feast of Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko, a martyr whose heroic life and death contributed to Poland’s liberation from the communist regime. Father Jerzy was a Polish Roman Catholic priest and a Chaplain of Solidarity, or the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union. This union was the main social movement opposing the communist regime in Poland. His ministry started when Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński asked him to celebrate Mass for striking workers.
